The fluorescent lights of the paper mill hummed, casting long shadows across Yoo Man-soo’s face, a veteran of twenty years, now facing a forced retirement. The air, thick with the scent of pulp and regret, mirrored the bitterness rising within him. His supervisor, Koo Beom-mo, a man half his age, delivered the news with a cold detachment, another casualty of corporate downsizing. Man-soo’s world, once defined by the rhythmic churn of the machines and the camaraderie of his workmates, was crumbling. At home, the weight of unemployment pressed heavily on his family, his wife Lee Mi-ri struggling to keep their spirits up while their daughter Yoo Ri-won remained blissfully unaware of the storm brewing. As the days turned into weeks, Man-soo’s desperation grew, a dangerous seed planted by humiliation and nurtured by the crushing reality of “no other choice.” Detective Choi Seon-chul watches Man-soo and his activities. The desperation simmers, threatening to boil over.

No Other Choice Movie Overview
| Title | No Other Choice |
|---|---|
| Release Status | Released |
| Release Date | 2025-09-24 |
| Runtime | 2 hours and 19 minutes |
| Genre | Crime, Thriller, Comedy |
| Original Language | Ko |
| Spoken Language | English, Korean |
| Country | South Korea, France |
| Production Co. | CJ ENM Studios, Moho Film, KG Productions |
No Other Choice Movie Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Lee Byung-hun | Yoo Man-soo |
| Son Ye-jin | Lee Mi-ri |
| Park Hee-soon | Choi Seon-chul |
| Lee Sung-min | Koo Beom-mo |
| Yeom Hye-ran | Lee A-ra |
| Cha Seung-won | Ko Si-jo |
| Kim Woo-seung | Yoo Si-won |
| Choi So-yul | Yoo Ri-won |
| Kim Hyeong-mook | Lee Won-no |
| Woo Jeong-won | Dong-ho’s Mother |
| Yoo Yeon-seok | Oh Jin-ho |
| Yoon Ga-i | Youtuber |
| Oh Dal-su | Detective #1 |
| Lee Suk-hyeong | Detective #2 |
| Oh Kwang-rok | Mi-ri’s Father |
| Lee Yong-nyeo | Mi-ri’s Mother |
| Kim Hae-sook | Ok Sang-yeo |
| Im Tae-poong | Dong-ho |
| Nam Jin-bok | Choi Nam-gu |
| Ahn Hyun-ho | Lee Jun-oh |
| Kim Jung-pal | Factory Manager |
| Yoo In-hye | Instructor |
| Kim Sung-kang | Papyrus Paper President |
| Nam Dae-hyeob | Bartender |
| Joo In-young | Cello Teacher |
| Jeong Soo-kyo | Interviewer |
| Ryu Ji-an | Ye-ni |
| Jason Lane Cutler | American HR Manager |
| Bae Ki-beom | Sun Paper Worker |
| Jo Eun-joo | Tennis Coach |
| Lee Han-sol | Mart Manager |
| Son Sang-gyu | Papyrus Paper HR Manager |
| Yoo Yeon | Real Estate Agent |
| Byun Jin-su | Seon-chul’s Team Member |
| Kim Chae-yoon | Fairy |
| Bae Hyun-kyung | Police |
| Hiram Piskitel | American Executive |
| Henny Savenije | American Executive |
| Derek Chouinard | American Executive |
| Lee Jin-kyul | Photographer |
| Kwon Hyuk | Interviewer |
No Other Choice Movie Storyline
In the bustling South Korean city of Busan, Yoo Man-soo, a dedicated paper mill manager, finds his life spiraling downwards after being unexpectedly laid off. Humiliated and desperate, he faces countless rejections in a cutthroat job market, straining his relationship with his wife, Lee Mi-ri, who tries to support him amidst her own struggles as a struggling cellist. Man-soo’s attempts at regaining his dignity take a dark turn when he encounters Koo Beom-mo, a former colleague who introduces him to a dangerous scheme involving blackmail and extortion within the corporate world. As Man-soo delves deeper into this criminal underbelly, he crosses paths with Choi Seon-chul, a hardened detective investigating a series of increasingly violent crimes, unknowingly closing in on Man-soo’s desperate acts. Torn between his desire to provide for his family and the weight of his morally compromising actions, Man-soo must navigate a treacherous path where the lines between victim and perpetrator blur, ultimately forcing him to confront the consequences of his choices and decide how far he is willing to go when there seems to be no other choice. The suspense builds as Seon-chul pieces together the puzzle, leading to a climactic confrontation where Man-soo must choose between redemption and a life consumed by darkness, revealing the devastating impact of economic hardship and the lengths people will go to reclaim their lost dignity.
No Other Choice Movie Details
In the gritty crime thriller “No Other Choice,” set against the backdrop of a fiercely competitive South Korean job market, veteran paper mill manager Yoo Man-soo, played by Lee Byung-hun, faces an abrupt and humiliating layoff, shattering his sense of self-worth and stability. The film follows Man-soo’s desperate descent into violence as he grapples with the indignity of unemployment and the erosion of his once-respected status. As Man-soo navigates a treacherous path, blurring the lines between victim and perpetrator, he encounters Lee Mi-ri (Son Ye-jin), a woman whose life becomes intertwined with his in unforeseen ways, testing the boundaries of morality and survival. Detective Choi Seon-chul (Park Hee-soon) becomes obsessed with the escalating violence, doggedly pursuing Man-soo while battling his own internal demons and the corrupt forces within the police department. Meanwhile, Koo Beom-mo (Lee Sung-min), a former colleague and friend of Man-soo, is forced to choose between loyalty and self-preservation as he becomes entangled in Man-soo’s increasingly reckless actions. With a blend of dark comedy and suspense, “No Other Choice” explores themes of desperation, social inequality, and the lengths one will go to reclaim lost dignity, painting a stark portrait of a society where the pursuit of success can lead to irreversible moral compromise.
No Other Choice Movie Poster Images
No Other Choice Movie Poster Image
Movie Trailers
Chan-wook Park on balancing comedy and darker themes in No Other Choice.
Park Chan-wook and Lee Byung Hun on No Other Choice
No Other Choice Movie FAQs
What is the movie No Other Choice about?
No Other Choice tells the story of a veteran paper mill manager who, after being laid off and facing a difficult job market, resorts to violence in a desperate attempt to regain his dignity.
What genres does No Other Choice fall under?
This movie is categorized under the genres of Crime, Thriller, and Comedy.
Who are some of the main actors in No Other Choice?
The movie features Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, and Park Hee-soon as some of its leading actors.
When was No Other Choice released?
No Other Choice was released on September 24, 2025.
What is the runtime of No Other Choice?
The movie has a runtime of 139 minutes.
Which countries were involved in the production of No Other Choice?
The movie was produced in South Korea and France.
What is the original language of the movie?
The original language of No Other Choice is Korean.
Who directed No Other Choice?
Park Chan-wook directed the movie No Other Choice.
What are some of the production companies behind No Other Choice?
CJ ENM Studios, Moho Film, and KG Productions are among the production companies involved.
What is the average rating for No Other Choice?
The movie has an average rating of 7.787 based on 47 votes.